When
I first wrote about alternative varietals on the new Vinodiversity website I
said there were some bargains to be had. Some of these wines are still unheard
of and very underpriced.

Now
I have uncovered an absolute bargain for my loyal newsletter readers…

But
first some background

Casella Wines is one of the biggest success stories in Australian wine. Their
[yellow tail] brand came from nowhere to selling millions of cases in the US
before most of us in Australia had heard of Casella, yellow tails or tails of
any colour. Writers and drinkers were sceptical of a neophyte from the unfashionable
Riverina. But Casella stared down the critics and is now reaping the rewards.

The company has a magnificent cash cow with its US exports but they are not
sitting on their hands. They are really pushing the envelope with varietal wines.
At the 2004 AAVWS in Mildura they entered six wines, two pinot grigios, a viognier,
a sangiovese, a tempranillo, a durif and a durif/shiraz blend.

The
2003 Sangiovese was one of only two sangioveses to be awarded a gold, out of
46 sangiovese entered at the show. Casella know how to grow the grapes and they
know how to make the wine.

Sangiovese
is the variety behind Chianti, but forget about raffia wrapped bottles. Think
about a savoury, bright coloured wine that demands to be drunk with food. It
is leading the charge of the Italian varieties being introduced into Australia.

The
Special

One
of Casella’s brand names is Yendah Vale, under which they market some
of their alternative varietals. The 2002 Yendah Vale Sangiovese is described
in the 2005 James Halliday Wine Companion as a particularly good example of
this variety. In fact, he gave it 90 points. Huon Hooke and Ralph Kyte Powell
in the Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide were equally impressed. They say it
is moderately priced and fair value at $17.50 per bottle. Well we can do much
better than that.

You can have this wonderful drop at an amazing $179.90 per dozen. That’s
just $15.00 per bottle for one of the best sangioveses in Australia! But there’s
more! Our suppliers are currently are running a 2-dozens-for-the-price-of-one
special. Make that just $7.50 a bottle.